Gene Simmons Busy With Acting, Touring, Owning A Football Team

He appeared on tonight’s “CSI,” he’s going to attend the kickoff of Arena Football this weekend (he owns the LA team) and he’s preparing for an upcoming tour with his rock group, KISS.

CBS2 Entertainment Reporter Suzanne Marques caught up with the busy guy and asked him how he’s juggling so much at once.

Although being busy is nothing new for Simmons. He’s been on the rock stage for four decades.

“My philosophy has been to get up every day as if the only day you ever have. Do good, work hard, love hard, live life to its fullest,” Simmons said.

As for the “CSI” role, he says it wasn’t too much of a stretch.

“I play a role that I was born to play,” he quips, “Gene Simmons! And I am suspected of murder.”

He’s literally killing it these days, all venues, all media. He owns restaurants, too. The LA KISS also make their Arena Football debut Saturday.

He explains the showmanship he is known for in music should translate well to sports.

“If you are running a race, don’t worry about anyone else. KISS started out that way, when we started we were oblivious and didn’t really care what other bands were doing. We wanted to put together the band that we never saw on stage. Let’s put together the football team we never saw on the field.”

The one thing that keeps Simmons motivated he says is his family. His constant for the past 31 years, wife Shannon and two children, Nick and Sophie.

“What I demand and what Shannon demands out of the kids, humility, respect, and outreach. You got to give back. So what I hope for them is happiness. I don’t care what you do in life, if you only do charity, then you will have something to do everyday.”

His inspiration about living and loving life comes from his mother, a concentration camp survivor at 12.

“She saw the worst in humanity,” Simmons explains, “and can still see the goodness of mankind. It’s a testament to what a better person she is than I will ever be.”

[Editor’s Note: Eight KISS games will be broadcast on KCAL9 starting April 12th]